Ball Target Game

ABSTRACT

A skill-type game utilizing a raised bucket having a plurality of openings in its wall and a ramp extending from each opening to a playing surface. Competing players propel their own ball toward the bucket and thence up a ramp and into the bucket.

United States Patent [191 Contreras Nov. 18, 1975 BALL TARGET GAME [76]Inventor: Agripin Contreras, 2226 S. Albany, Chicago, 111. 60623 [22]Filed: Oct. 2, 1974 Appl. No.: 511,444

[52] US. Cl 273/127 R; 273/180; 273/167 G [51] Int. Cl. A63B 71/04; A63B57/00 [58] Field of Search 273/178, 179, 127, 181,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Miller 273/181 A X 3,507,4994/1970 Rice 273/178 R Primary ExaminerGe0rge J. Marlo Attorney, Agent,or FirmRalph M. Faust [57] ABSTRACT A skill-type game utilizing a raisedbucket having a plurality of openings in its wall and a ramp extendingfrom each opening to a playing surface. Competing players propel theirown ball toward the bucket and thence up a ramp and into the bucket.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures U.S.- Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 US.Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,920,246

BALL TARGET GAME BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to a skill-type game designed for entertainment, but requiringsome degree of skill and dexterity, and involving competition between aplurality of players.

The game will be best understood with reference to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings wherein: I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows the game as it would beplayed in the preferred manner;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the target bucket and ramp means;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary plan view taken at line 2A-2A of the lower endof a ramp;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the axis of the targetbucket; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the bucket with portions broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, atarget bucket comprises a wall or body portion 12 and an optional cover14 hinged to the body. The bucket is raised from the playing surface byramp assemblies 16 as will be described hereinafter. The body portion 12is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 18positioned adjacent the bottom wall 20. If desired, hinged gates 22 maybe utilized to permit entry of a ball 23 (FIG. 3) into the bucket, butthen to swing down by force of gravity to prevent egress of the ballfrom the bucket.

The ramp assemblies 16, one for each opening 18, include a ramp 24 and asupport bracket 26 preferably welded to the ramp to maintain fixedangularity thereof relative to a playing surface. A brace 28 (FIG.2)'interconnects the support bracket 26 and the upper end 29 of the rampand is provided with a support arm 30. When, now, a plurality of threeor more ramp assemblies are circumferentially spaced, the bucket 10 maybe supported on arms 30 such that the ramp end 29 is placed adjacent toand in communication with its related opening 18. The game, therefore,when not in use, may be easily disassembled and will require only asmall storage area.

The game may be played outdoors on a lawn or indoors on a rug and spikes32 secured to each support bracket may be utilized to grip the grass orthe nap of the rug and hold the ramps and bucket in position once thegame is set up. As seen in FIG. 1, each player strikes one of aplurality of player color-coded balls 32 with a generally L or J shapedclub 34 with the object of the game being to move the ball from adesignated starting point into the bucket in the least number ofstrokes. If preferred, the balls may be thrown or rolled by hand andthis type of play may be desired by small children. The balls 23preferably are formed of wood but could, if desired, be made of plasticor rubber. To prevent balls in the bucket from blocking a gate, thebottom wall 20 may be provided with ball receiving dimples or may bedished as best seen in FIG. 3. The cover 14 will prevent a ball which isforcefully propelled through an opening 18 from bouncing out of thebucket or from knocking a previously scored ball out of the bucket.

I claim:

1. A game adapted for use on a playing surface, comprising a buckethaving a circumferential body portion and a bottom wall; a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced openings in the body portion adjacent saidbottom wall; a separate ramp assembly for each opening, each rampassembly including a ramp extending angularly upward from the playingsurface, a bracket adapted to support the ramp, a horizontally disposedsupport arm at the upper end of the ramp, each of said rampscommunicating with an associated opening when the bucket is placed onand is supported by said support arms; and a plurality of balls moveableby a plurality of players up said ramps and through associated openingsinto the bucket, said bucket being of a size to hold a plurality of saidballs simultaneously.

2. A game according to claim 1 wherein the bottom wall is dished so thata ball entering an opening rolls toward the center of the bucket to makeroom for other balls entering through the same opening.

3. A game according to claim 1 and including a cover hinged to said bodyportion to form a top closure to prevent balls from bouncing out of thebucket during play of the game.

1. A game adapted for use on a playing surface, comprising a buckethaving a circumferential body portion and a bottom wall; a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced openings in the body portion adjacent saidbottom wall; a separate ramp asSembly for each opening, each rampassembly including a ramp extending angularly upward from the playingsurface, a bracket adapted to support the ramp, a horizontally disposedsupport arm at the upper end of the ramp, each of said rampscommunicating with an associated opening when the bucket is placed onand is supported by said support arms; and a plurality of balls moveableby a plurality of players up said ramps and through associated openingsinto the bucket, said bucket being of a size to hold a plurality of saidballs simultaneously.
 2. A game according to claim 1 wherein the bottomwall is dished so that a ball entering an opening rolls toward thecenter of the bucket to make room for other balls entering through thesame opening.
 3. A game according to claim 1 and including a coverhinged to said body portion to form a top closure to prevent balls frombouncing out of the bucket during play of the game.